Jay Blades' new role revealed after stepping back from BBC's The Repair Shop

A sneak peek into Jay Blades' latest venture has hit the internet as the ex-Repair Shop favourite embarks on a fresh challenge.

At 54 years old, known for his knack of breathing new life into cherished family items on the BBC programme, he's set to delve into the storied past of London's West End in an upcoming series.

The forthcoming Channel 5 series, titled 'In The West End Through Time', will feature Blades as he investigates how this central part of London became synonymous with luxury and affluence.

In the opening episode, viewers will accompany him to Trafalgar Square, journeying in an iconic black taxi. His visit to St Martins-in-the-Field Church is set to reveal a significant find from 2006 that reshaped thoughts about London's early days.

As the narrative progresses to the 17th century, when the West End was flourishing, Blades will explore the tale of Henry Jermyn. Jermyn's grandiose construction endeavour close to St James's Palace transformed the erstwhile open fields into posh dwellings for the elite of the time, reports the Express.

The announcement of Blades' new programme was made on Instagram, complete with a brief video teaser. The caption accompanying the post read: "We are very excited to share that Jay Blades is going back in time once again!"

"Our East End boy learns all about the glitz, the glamour, the shopping and the showbiz in a brand new two-part series, Jay Blades: The West End Through Time. Join @jaybladesmbe for episode 1 on Saturday 13th July at 9pm on @channel5_tv."

In May, it emerged that Jay was taking a step back from the beloved BBC series The Repair Shop after reports of his marriage split and the sad loss of his uncle. Jay was notably absent when filming picked up again at the well-known set some months ago, and it's understood he's currently on hiatus from his prominent role in the programme, which is famed for bringing treasured items back to life.

A television insider revealed that the show is "carrying on without him for now". One source shared: "Jay has taken a step back and is having a break from filming The Repair Shop. His uncle's death in March and the breakdown of his marriage means he has decided to take some time out."

The same source added: "The Repair Shop is carrying on without him for now and the other repairers are hard at work."